Symbol-based puzzle game

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to puzzle games, and more particularly to a symbol-based puzzle game where the user solves the puzzle by filling puzzle boxes with pre-selected symbols.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present specification relates generally to puzzle games, and moreparticularly to a symbol-based puzzle game where the user solves thepuzzle by filling puzzle boxes with pre-selected symbols.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various symbol-based puzzle games have been known since antiquity, andmore recently, popularity of these games (e.g. Sudoku) has ebbed andflowed over time. Such games are popular as they are generally easy toplay, requiring merely a layout and a writing instrument, whileproviding varying degrees of challenge depend on the game and format.

However, it would be desirable to make these puzzle games moreinteresting by providing an overarching theme which is integrated intothe puzzle solution. Additionally, the ability to modify the gamelayout, either independently or in accordance with a theme, may alsoprovide a new experience for veteran players or existing formats.Finally, in both cases, the ability to moderate or increase thechallenge of solving the puzzle should also be provided.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided asymbol-based puzzle game where the user solves the puzzle by fillingpuzzle boxes with pre-selected symbols.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided asymbol-based puzzle, comprising: a primary grid, formed from twooverlapping squares to form a rectangular set of columns and lines; aplurality of secondary grids, each secondary grid being formed from asquare set of puzzle boxes, the secondary grids laid out inside theprimary grid such that each secondary grid is connected to at least oneother secondary grid by at least one puzzle box and such that at least aportion of the primary grid remains uncovered by any secondary grids;and a pre-selected set of symbols, the number of pre-selected symbolsequal to the number of puzzle boxes in one secondary grid; wherein thepuzzle is solved by filling in each puzzle box with a symbol from thepre-selected set of symbols such that no symbol appears twice in anycolumn of the primary grid, any line of the primary grid and in anysecondary grid.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the symbols may beselected based on the thematic elements for the puzzle. Further, phrasesrelated to the thematic element may be formed within the primary gridupon solving the puzzle.

Other aspects and features according to the present application willbecome apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review ofthe following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunctionwith the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, byway of example only, embodiments of the invention, and how they may becarried into effect, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a 16×29 puzzle layout according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a 16×31 puzzle layout according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a 25×45 puzzle layout according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a 27×47 puzzle layout according to an embodiment.

Like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding elements in thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates generally to puzzle games, and moreparticularly to a symbol-based puzzle game where the user solves thepuzzle by filling puzzle boxes with pre-selected symbols.

According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the puzzle game 100 isbased on a primary grid 110, which is defined by two overlapping squaresto form a number of columns and lines. Preferably, the number of columnsand lines on one side is a square number, such as 16, 25 or 36, but thefinal number of columns and lines need not be a square number nor to beequal. The primary grid determines the overall puzzle layout. Forexample, in FIG. 1, the primary grid is a 16×29 rectangle, defined bytwo overlapping squares of 16×16, with a three-line overlap.

Within the primary grid are a plurality of secondary grids 120, witheach secondary grid defined as a set of puzzle boxes 130 laid out in asquare shape, and the number of boxes 130 in each secondary grid 120preferably equal to one of the number of lines and columns in theprimary grid 110. For example, in FIG. 1, for a 16×29 primary grid 110,each secondary grid 120 is a 4×4 square of 16 puzzle boxes 130.

Each potential box in the primary grid 110 may be further denoted by apositional identifier based on enumerating the column and lines. Forexample, the columns may be labeled with lowercase letters a-y, andlines by numerals 1-25, such that each space may be identified by acolumn/line combination such as a2 or q17. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 1, lines may be defined by a number-letter combination (1a-2c, asshown) and columns by the letter-number combination (a1-b6, as shown).The position any puzzle box may be given by the line/column combination,such as 2c, a4 for puzzle box 130 as indicated in FIG. 1

Each secondary grid 120 is positioned fully within the primary grid 110such that each secondary grid 120 is connected to at least one othersecondary grid 120 by at least one puzzle square. The layout of thesecondary grids 120 is also such that at least a portion of the primarygrid 110 remains uncovered by any secondary grids 120. The layout of thesecondary grids 120 may be symmetrical or asymmetrical, as desired.Additionally, to produce certain patterns of secondary grids 120, eachsecondary grid 120 may be further limited to contact with no more thanthree other secondary grids 120.

The user then completes the puzzle 100 by filling in each of the puzzleboxes 130 with a symbol 140, where the number of unique symbols 140 isequal to the number of puzzle boxes 130 in each secondary grid 120. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, the symbols are a combination of lettersand numbers, namely the consonants B,Q,R,T, the vowels A and O, and thenumbers 1-9 and 0. Each secondary grid must be filled with one of eachsymbol, such that no symbol is repeated across any line or column of theprimary grid 110, or within any given secondary grid 120.

In order to determine which symbols 140 to place, the user may beprovided with some puzzle boxes 130 pre-filled with symbols 140, thenumber of pre-filled boxes required being determined by the size of theprimary grid 110 and the number and location of the secondary grids 120.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the puzzle 200 (a 16×31layout formed by overlapping 16×16 squares) may have an underlyingthematic element. As shown in FIG. 2, the thematic element is countriesand their year of independence (in French language). Thus, the secondarygrids 120 are positioned and the symbols 140 selected such that one ormore recognizable phrase (e.g. words or patterns) related to thethematic element may be formed within the primary grid 110, either alonga line or column, or diagonally. The nature of the phrase by may behinted to the user by providing a relevant title for the puzzle asshown, or providing clues associated with the spaces of the primary grid110, somewhat similarly to a crossword puzzle. Phrases may also bebroken across multiple secondary grids 120, although an indication ofsuch should be presented to the user to assist in solving the puzzle100.

In may be possible, particularly when using phrases as the basis forgenerating the puzzle, that a duplicate symbol would be required withina secondary grid 120. In this case, one of the duplicate symbols may bereplaced by a placeholder symbol 150, to maintain the limitations of thepuzzle. The location of the placeholder symbol 150 on the primary grid110 and the corresponding symbol should be indicated to the user via alegend or similar notation near the puzzle as shown. Placeholder symbols150 may also be used for elements of compound words, such as spaces orhyphens, when such compound words are used as phrases.

The location of the phrases may be further indicated by highlighting thepuzzle boxes 130 which contain the phrases in the completed puzzle. Thishighlighting may be done by changing the color of the puzzle boxes 130,by bolding sections of the primary grid 110 or one or more secondarygrids 120, or other methods as known in the art of puzzles.

It may be noted that each puzzle 100 should have a solution, althoughthe solution may be non-unique, given the nature of symbol-based logicpuzzles.

For ease of presentation and reproduction, the use of alphanumericsymbols (uppercase and lowercase letters A-Z, numerals 1-0) for thepre-selected symbols is recommended, although other symbols may be used,depending on the nature of the puzzle and the puzzle's creator. Otherpotential symbols include ASCII characters, extended ASCII characters,and emojis, among others.

Additionally, the selected phrases for the puzzle may be in any languagedesired, although an indication of the language used should be providedto the user with the hints.

Puzzle 100 may be generated by starting from a primary grid 110 and anarrangement of secondary grids 120, and selecting the appropriate numberand layout of symbols 140 from there. Alternatively, a theme may beselected, related phrases determined, and the appropriate number andtype of symbols 130 identified, and then the primary grid 110 and layoutof secondary grids 120 from that. In either case, the final solutionlayout with all symbols 140 placed in all puzzle squares 130 may behand-generated or, preferably, computer generated.

FIG. 3 is an example of a thematically based puzzle 300 (air travel),with a 25×45 puzzle layout based on overlapping 25×25 squares. FIG. 4 isanother example of a thematically based puzzle 400 (famous people andtheir age), which has phrases that incorporated by alphabetical andnumerical symbols. FIG. 4 uses a 27×47 layout, based on overlapping27×27 squares.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certainadaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments areconsidered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than theforegoing description and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A-symbol placement game, comprising: a primarygrid, formed from a rectangular set of columns and lines; a plurality ofsecondary grids, each secondary grid being formed from a square set ofpuzzle boxes, the secondary grids laid out inside the primary grid suchthat each secondary grid is connected to at least one other secondarygrid by at least one puzzle box and such that at least a portion of theprimary grid remains uncovered by any secondary grids; and apre-selected set of symbols, the number of pre-selected symbols equal tothe number of puzzle boxes in one secondary grid; wherein the puzzle hasat least one solution obtained by filling in each puzzle box with asymbol from the pre-selected set of symbols such that no symbol appearstwice in any column of the primary grid, any line of the primary gridand in any secondary grid.
 2. The game of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the number of columns in the primary grid and the number of lines inthe primary grid are a square number.
 3. The game of claim 2, whereinnumber of columns in the primary grid and the number of lines in theprimary grid are equal.
 4. The game of claim 1, wherein the symbols arealphanumeric.
 5. The game of claim 1, where the symbols are selectedbased on a thematic element for the puzzle.
 6. The game of claim 5,wherein at least portion of the symbols are allocated to form one ormore phrases associated with the thematic element.
 7. The game of claim6, wherein the phrases are formed within the primary grid when thepuzzle is solved.
 8. The game of claim 7, wherein the puzzle boxescontaining the symbols forming the phrases are highlighted.
 9. The gameof claim 6, wherein one or more phrases requires a duplicate symbolwithin a secondary grid, the duplicate symbol is replaced with aplaceholder element.
 10. The game of claim 5, further including a legendindicating the thematic element of the puzzle.
 11. The game of claim 7,further including a legend indicating the phrases formed within theprimary grid.
 12. The game of claim 7, further including a legendindicating a location within the primary grid for one or more of thephrases formed within the primary grid.
 13. The game of claim 9, furtherincluding a legend indicating which symbols are replaced by placeholderelements and a location for each puzzle box containing a placeholdersymbol.
 14. The game of claim 1, wherein the layout of the secondarygrids is symmetrical.
 15. The game of claim 1, wherein each secondarygrid is connected to no more than three other secondary grids.
 16. Thegame of claim 6, wherein the phrases contain both alphabetical andnumerical symbols.
 17. The game of claim 2, wherein the square number isone of: 16, 25 and 36.